TheGillz Explo Off-Road Trailer via Geotracker90 Build!
- Thread starter TheGillz
- Start date
GeoTracker90
Adventurer
IH8RDS said:
The WMS to WMS dimension with out the spacers is 55". We had this axle custom built by Dexter through Redneck Trailer Supplies. I'll end up making the spring hangers and shackles for the Sami springs. This will slightly alter the width of the frame making it wider, but I believe that we will still have enough clearance between the tires and the body of the trailer. Now I'll be checking on new bushings for the Sami springs. I could always eliminate the rubber bushings and turn up some UHMW bushings on the lathe if I needed to. It sure is fun having a lathe for various projects and for the occasional "just in case."
Also, shocks will certainly be a paert of this trailer build. They aren't shown in the parts spread beacuse we are waiting untill the axle location and chassis are completed. After that we can take some measurements and make a decision on the best location and the best size of the shocks for this trailer. I would like to have them as close to vertical as possible, but a lot of that is still undetermined until we get a little further along with the construction. If any one has a Rancho shock part number chart that lists the extended and collapsed lengths and mounting styles I would like to recieve a copy of it. I had saved a copy at one time but currently can't find it. I may have to look on my older laptop.
Mike :safari-rig:
p.s. We need an Expo trailer smilie added to the selection.
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GeoTracker90
Adventurer
Early Monday morning I remembered that I was going to have some steel show up at my work Tuesday afternoon. The problem with this was that I had left my utility trailer out at my in-laws' place about 12 miles out of town.
Hey wait, that's not a problem. It's an opportunity to fire up the lathe and make bushings. I had called around today and so far the only thing that my local parts house can find are Energy Suspension bushing for about $40.00. So just as an experiment I chucked up a piece of UHMW plastic rod in the lathe and had a go at it.
After a little while I had a pair of bushing halves turned out and ready to be installed in the spring eye.
I'm pretty happy with the end result. The center bolt hole is currently 1/2" diameter, but may be bumped out to 9/16" if I decide to use these. The nice thing about the 1/2" bolt is that the unthreaded portion of the shank is just long enough that the bushings have a smooth area to ride on.
Here are a couple pictures of the stock bushings in the other end of the spring.
I wanted to start cutting pieces of tube for the frame but, I really need to have the springs and bushings and hangers and shackles all figured out and ready to go before I start fooling around with the frame.
I really wish my work space was a lot closer to my house.
Of course if that were the case I'd never get any sleep. :coffeedrink:
Mike
Hey wait, that's not a problem. It's an opportunity to fire up the lathe and make bushings. I had called around today and so far the only thing that my local parts house can find are Energy Suspension bushing for about $40.00. So just as an experiment I chucked up a piece of UHMW plastic rod in the lathe and had a go at it.
After a little while I had a pair of bushing halves turned out and ready to be installed in the spring eye.
I'm pretty happy with the end result. The center bolt hole is currently 1/2" diameter, but may be bumped out to 9/16" if I decide to use these. The nice thing about the 1/2" bolt is that the unthreaded portion of the shank is just long enough that the bushings have a smooth area to ride on.
Here are a couple pictures of the stock bushings in the other end of the spring.
I wanted to start cutting pieces of tube for the frame but, I really need to have the springs and bushings and hangers and shackles all figured out and ready to go before I start fooling around with the frame.
I really wish my work space was a lot closer to my house.
Of course if that were the case I'd never get any sleep. :coffeedrink: Mike
stomperxj
Explorer
Lookin great Mike... I have turned my own bushings out of UHMW before too back when I raced circle track. It cuts like butter... Thats a nice stack of parts there...
Parts question: What/where is a good source for Samurai spring packs? Where did you get those?
Looking forward to updates
Parts question: What/where is a good source for Samurai spring packs? Where did you get those?
Looking forward to updates
TheGillz
Explorer
Who needs sleep? eepwall: That is looking sweet. I was wondering about that aspect. Nice job.
I have two houses w/in 10 blocks of me that both park 2 or 3 samurais. I just mosied on down and asked if the knew where to get some springs. House # two said "funny you should ask". He had front and rears on a couple of axles that he planned on swapping out in the future and was willing to part w/ the springs at a fair price. There is another trailer thread where someone ordered some new ones though...
eepwall: That is looking sweet. I was wondering about that aspect. Nice job.I have two houses w/in 10 blocks of me that both park 2 or 3 samurais. I just mosied on down and asked if the knew where to get some springs. House # two said "funny you should ask". He had front and rears on a couple of axles that he planned on swapping out in the future and was willing to part w/ the springs at a fair price. There is another trailer thread where someone ordered some new ones though...
ntsqd
Heretic Car Camper
Boy, are you in luck! A long time ago I gathered all of the then available shock info and built this file: http://northwest.2bigbroncos.org/technical/shocks_files/shock_specs.xls It may have some discontinued p/n's in it as I've not maintained it in years. Thanks to 2BigBroncos for hosting it.GeoTracker90 said:
lqhikers
Adventurer
rubber band man!
Did you really drive with just bungees holding everything together? I taken a few trips in your area( Deadwood,Yellow pine,Etc and even using rachet straps i have had gear come loose!Girls and dog sure look happy!
Drive slow and enjoy "its the journey"
Les, Lqhikers.
Did you really drive with just bungees holding everything together? I taken a few trips in your area( Deadwood,Yellow pine,Etc and even using rachet straps i have had gear come loose!Girls and dog sure look happy!
Drive slow and enjoy "its the journey"
Les, Lqhikers.
JIMBO
Expedition Leader
:camping: Yo TheGillz, You need more than a trailer, jeeps are wonderful, but, the older the kids and bigger the dog-less room and comfort--
--What gorgeous daughters and that dog could scare BenTens enemy (ICON)??
--LOOKS LIKE, ONE OF THE TRAILERS IS IN THE listof--
--:REOutCampFire03: :REOutCampFire03: --JIMBO
--What gorgeous daughters and that dog could scare BenTens enemy (ICON)??
--LOOKS LIKE, ONE OF THE TRAILERS IS IN THE listof--
--:REOutCampFire03: :REOutCampFire03: --JIMBO
TheGillz
Explorer
LOL, no the bungies only held on the table and the tarp, the rest was roped to all get out!
I don't get the reference.
The Jeep will be fine once we don't have to have one of the back seats folded down for gear. And we have no other kids on the horizon...
Mike should be working on the trailer this weekend, so stay tuned for more updates....
I don't get the reference.
The Jeep will be fine once we don't have to have one of the back seats folded down for gear. And we have no other kids on the horizon...
Mike should be working on the trailer this weekend, so stay tuned for more updates....
GeoTracker90
Adventurer
TheGillz said:Who needs sleep?
To answer the question, apparently I don't! Look at the time!
Well tonight I was able to get in a few hours of shop time and accomplished a couple of things. I was able to get the other two bushing halves turned on the lathe. That was a lot of fun. I didn't take pictures of that because they look just like the other two.
I also started on the frame work for the main box's side panels. I got them tacked together pretty well. I'll wait and do the final welding after I have them in place on the trailer frame.
The tubing is 1-1/2" square with an 0.083" wall thickness. The length of the box front to back is 5' long and the sides are 28" tall. It worked out so that there is 18" between each of the verticle braces for the wall.
I'm working on getting the parts I need for the frame mounted shackle bushings. I'll see what I can whip up this weekend. With any luck I'll be able to have a rolling chassis completed by the end of Saturday.
Get the :lurk: ready as there will be more pictures to follow this weekend.
Mike
P.S. Sorry for the crappy picture. I left my good camera at home.
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GeoTracker90
Adventurer
What does six hours of shop time get you?
Well as promised I made it out to the shop today. I got kind of a late start today so there were a few items that I wanted to get done that just didn't happen.
It all starts with the first cut. I had to trim a little of the 2"x4" -0.120" steel tube that was destined to become the rear bumper.
Then the ends recieved a little trim, at an angle of course. Can't just have square ends now can we?
Every good expo trailer needs some piercing. This one just happens to be for a rear reciever hitch tube. (Safety note: do not tow anoter fully laden vehicle and expo trailer from this point. If you do make sure that some one is shooting pics and rolling video. )
Just a comparison of the rear bumper width and the overall axle width with the wheels/tires mounted up.
Time for a second post.
Mike
Well as promised I made it out to the shop today. I got kind of a late start today so there were a few items that I wanted to get done that just didn't happen.
It all starts with the first cut. I had to trim a little of the 2"x4" -0.120" steel tube that was destined to become the rear bumper.
Then the ends recieved a little trim, at an angle of course. Can't just have square ends now can we?
Every good expo trailer needs some piercing. This one just happens to be for a rear reciever hitch tube. (Safety note: do not tow anoter fully laden vehicle and expo trailer from this point. If you do make sure that some one is shooting pics and rolling video.
)
Just a comparison of the rear bumper width and the overall axle width with the wheels/tires mounted up.
Time for a second post.
Mike
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